Importers and exporters to work with new directives

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has indicated all transactions in respect of import/export manifest should now be processed through the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) or the Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS) at all ports.

This, the GRA said, takes effect from 28th April 2020 until 31st May 2020.

The Authority cautioned that from 1st June 2020, however, all new transactions without exception in respect of import and export could only be processed through the ICUMS.

The GRA issued this notice in a release signed by Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the Ag Commissioner-General, on deployment of the Integrated Customs Management System at the Tema Port as well as all other entry points.

It stressed, however, that all existing transactions commencing prior to the 31st May 2020 for which processing have not been completed in the GCMS before or after payment of duty should be reprocessed through the ICUMS.

The current guidelines clarify previous correspondences on the new system including Introduction of ICUMS in Ghana; Notice to Customs House Agents and Self-Declarants; Re: Deployment of ICUMS and the Deployment of Integrated Customs Management System at Tema.

Read the full statement below:

DEPLOYMENT OF INTEGRATED CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ICUMS)

Reference is made to the following correspondences in respect of the above subject.

-Public Notice: Introduction of ICUMS in Ghana (Ref. No. CG/GRA/ICUMS- PN/04/20 of 24th April 2020)

-Notice to Customs House Agents and Self-Declarants (Ref. No. CG/GRA/ICUMS2/04/20 Of 24th April 2020)

-Re: Deployment of ICUMS (Ref. No. CG/GRA/ICUMS/04/20 of 24th April 2020)

-Deployment of Integrated Customs Management System at Tema (Ref. No. H/MISC/1 of 27th April 2020)

We wish to provide further guidelines and clarity as follows:

PROCESSING OF MANIFEST (IMPORT/EXPORT)

Effective 28th April 2020 and until 31st of May 2020, the following shall apply.

(a)  All transactions in respect of import/export manifest can be processed through either Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) or Ghana Customs Management System (GCMS) for the Tema Port as well as all other entry points.

(b)  For the avoidance of doubt, with effect from 1st June 2020, all new transactions without exception in respect of import and export shall only be processed through the ICUMS.

(c)   All existing transactions commencing prior to the 31st of May 2020 for which processing have not been completed in the GCMS (before or after payment of duty) shall be reprocessed through the ICUMS.

Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah

Ag. Commissioner-General